KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines has been fined $6 million by an Australian federal court over price fixing on its air freight business. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said the fine brings the total penalties in the case to a record $58 million – the highest of any of its investigations. The competition watchdog says Malaysia Airlines Cargo admitted to making deals with other international airlines on surcharges and fees to deliver freight from Indonesia. The company, which changed its name last year to MASkargo, admitted to fixing prices on fuel surcharges, security surcharges and customs fees between 2001 and 2005, said ACCC chairman Rod Sims. “This penalty sees the total penalties ordered against this international cartel increase to a record $58 million,” Sims said. “These penalties are the highest generated by a single ACCC investigation.” The ACCC launched proceedings against the company in April 2010. Other airlines involved in the case include Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Air New Zealand, Thai Airways International and Garuda Indonesia.
